Here’s the deal, shut down base load coal plants need to be replaced by something. When that something is wind power what covers when the wind isn’t blowing? It’s natural gas fired power. That is because gas turbines can be started very quickly to cover the power loss when the wind quits blowing.
https://www.misoenergy.org/MarketsOperations/RealTimeMarketData/Pages/FuelMix.aspx
One thing that has skewered the mix is BNSF breaking coal contracts to haul oil. The result of that was coal plants shut down or running at low loads. The only replacement choice is gas.
So many factors that shouldn’t be directing the energy industry. Cost vs benefit IMHO should be job one, and that means coal should be base load choice with the more expensive natural gas as the choice for peak demand. Too bad the people, and energy producers advocating for coal are cancelled out by one individual with the media at his command.